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Pratt Advises: What to do with your Red Light Camera ticket in Lubbock

Listener: Pratt on Texas
Category: Law Enforcement by Camera
Date: 10 Jan 2008
Time: 12:34:25 -0700
Remote Name: 70.242.183.197

Comments

Of late, I've received several emails like the one shown below. My January 1st Morning Update provided the solution and I've included it below the listener email in this post. Pratt

Mr. Pratt,

I live in Lubbock, and listen to your show as I drive home from work. I know you have a beef with the Red Light camera law in Lubbock. So do I. I got a letter with a picture of my Ford Ranger running a red light. This was my daughter driving at the time. 75 dollars, and I just let the letter sit. I got a second letter saying 100 dollars now, or I would be turned over to a collection agency. I received a third letter recently from a local law office, trying to scare me into paying, and I still let it sit. What do you recommend I do, pay it off a little at a time, or continue to let it sit, or just what do you think? Thanks for any response, and for speaking out for Lubbock.

Mike M-lifetime resident

COMMENTARY 1/1/2008

Did you see the big story that broke this last weekend? KCBD headlined it: Lubbock Drivers Fall Victim to Citation Scam.

It seems people have been receiving traffic citations for “reckless driving” on what appears to be official city letterhead, telling them that they must pay a $250 fine. Now most people would say: Bull, I’ve not been stopped by a police officer.

But that’s not the reaction anymore. Why? Because our city leadership and police department embarked on ill-conceived programs that remove police officers from direct citizen contact in the process of enforcing the law. It is the city’s use of automated traffic enforcement cameras at red lights, as well as the use of hidden surveillance cameras, that make such a scam possible.

These scam citations tell people that they were caught by a Lubbock Police Dashboard Camera. Lt. Stevens of the LPD tried to re-assure Lubbock citizens that they will know when a ticket is legitimate. He said: “…you will see Lubbock Police behind you with their lights flashing if you violate a traffic law.”

Yes, that is what the official from the Lubbock Police Department said.

So here is what I propose: If any person receives a red light camera in the mail, please send it back, unpaid and unsigned, with this quote from Lt. Stevens of the Lubbock Police Department: “…you will see Lubbock Police behind you with their lights flashing if you violate a traffic law.”